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Contemporary luthiers presented 

We are happy and proud to be able to present the work and art of the most talented contemporary luthiers, mainly from the Cremonese or Italian School, who offer you their instruments through our workshop.

Contemporary violin making

Ralph DUMONTEIL (Paris, France)

Born in Paris in 1979 into a family of musicians, Ralph Dumonteil has been playing the violin since the age of 5. He entered the International School of Violin Making Antonio Stradivarius in Cremona in 1997 and graduated in 2002 with a Master Violin Maker diploma after receiving instruction and guidance from master violinists Massimo Negroni, Maurizio Tadioli, and Claudio Amighetti. In 2005, he joined the workshop of Pierre Jaffré (Paris, France), where he became Workshop Manager and Artistic Director. Specializing in sound adjustment, he creates new instruments by copying old ones. 


Penocchio Riccardo (Châteaubriant, France)

Penocchio Riccardo is graduated at the International Violin Making School "Antonio Stradivari" in Cremona, learning construction and restoration techniques under the guidance of masters such as Commendulli Alessandro, Baratto Luca, Daniele Scolari, etc...

He worked in some workshops in Cremona, including two years in the workshop of master Commendulli Alessandro, developing the techniques for building and varnishing instruments inspired by the Italian classical tradition.Moving to France in 2021 he opened his workshop in Châteaubriant (Loire Atlantique, France) where he combines the construction of personal instruments with various types of restoration and maintenance.

Erik Buys (Anvers, Belgique)

Erik Buys holds a degree in Social and Cultural Agogical Sciences from the University of Brussels (VUB). After studying and researching at the Brussels Musical Instruments Museum (MIM), he specialized in the construction of baroque bowed instruments. The world of acoustics being so tempting and stimulating, it didn't take him long to focus on modern, high-performance concert instruments. His instruments are based on 17th- and 18th-century North Italian models and are played by musicians and soloists from all over Europe. In 2016, he was a prizewinner at the "VioloncellEnSeine" cello competition in Paris.

Erik Buys also teaches violin making and acoustics at ILSA (Internationale Lutherie School Antwerpen). In addition to making instruments, he is a passionate chess player. Find his creations on his website. 

AGOSTINELLI da gubbio (torre pellice, Italie)

Luigi Agostinelli was born in 1891 in Gubbio. A professional musician, he was interned during World War II in Kenya, where he made instruments for the camp orchestra. Returning to Italy in 1944, he settled in Torre Pellice, near Turin, as a professional luthier, before moving to Milan in 1953. His work is in the tradition of classical master luthiers. Find some of this luthier's models and past auctions on Tarisio. 

Daniel Delfour, (Toulouse, France)

Born in 1954, Daniel Delfour crafts his beautiful violins and violas in his home in the Bonnefoy district. He has set up a true artisan workshop there, complete with a workbench, tools, instruments in progress, vials containing precious varnishes, and instruments hanging on the walls. "I took up this profession out of passion at the age of 20, after pursuing higher studies in English and communications in Toulouse," he says. "I actually encountered the violin at the age of nine in Brive when I discovered the front of a violin maker's shop. That's where my vocation was born. I learned English so I could attend the Newark Violin Making School in Nottinghamshire. I spent five years in Great Britain. I settled in Toulouse as soon as I returned to France." Read the full interview on La Depeche.fr 

Nicolas Saumagne (La Roche sur Foron, France)

Before opening his own workshop alongside Agnès Saumagne in 1996, a stone's throw from Geneva in La Roche Sur Foron, Nicolas Saumagne benefited from demanding training in several countries which allowed him to try his hand at haute cuisine.

He stays up-to-date on the latest violin-making techniques to ensure the best possible restoration of the instruments that pass through his workshop. 

Atelier Saumagne, 609 avenue Jean Jaurès, La Roche-sur-Foron, FRANCE +33 (0)4 50 25 86 62

Alexis Legrosdidier (Angers, France)

"I trained as a violin maker in the Italian city of Cremona. In addition to the violin making school, where I was able to learn from the maestri Marchi, Voltini, and Amighetti, the city offers an exceptional learning opportunity from a violin making perspective, thanks to the many violin makers' workshops that coexist there. I was thus able to observe and partially test the vast range of construction processes and learn about questions of style—both sonic and aesthetic—thanks also to the city's instrumental collections (with instruments by Stradivari, Amati, Guarneri, etc., and instruments from the best international contemporary violin makers).

It was this wide variety of possibilities that led me to focus on and specialize in the creation of new instruments. With this in mind, I turned to the city of Angers to deepen my knowledge through contact with luthiers such as Marcus Klimke and François Denis. Thanks to François Denis, I was able to understand the principles of design and conception of 16th and 17th century luthiers, allowing me to look to the future with a solid foundation. As for Marcus Klimke, I owe him a high standard of personal excellence and the principle of stylistic consistency, as well as his keen attention to the countless details that make a quality instrument. Today, it is through contact with talented musicians that I constantly strive to extract the best timbre from each of my violins, violas, and cellos." 

Hervé Prudent ( Besançon, France)

Creating unique instruments for unique musicians is a testament to the mastery and creativity that luthier Hervé Prudent has developed over his thirty-year career, working with great artists such as Jean-Luc Ponty and Sérgio Assad. Hervé Prudent's workshop includes a Custom Shop, allowing him to satisfy the desires and needs for customization or custom-made instruments for amateur and professional musicians. The Christophe Raymond signature MIDI violin is a prime example.

GianMaria Stelzer (Trente, Italie)

Born in Trento (Italy) in 1986 and passionate about the cello, GianMaria Stelzer entered the School of Violin Making in Milan in 2007, continuing his participation in a number of musical groups at the same time. Quickly specializing in the production of string quartet instruments, he joined the class of Maestro Luca Primon with whom he has collaborated closely since 2009.

Gianmaria Stelzer is now based in Trento, where he offers beautiful violin making with deep, fine varnishes. Won the Special Jury Prize in 2010 at the 1st International Competition of Pisogne (Italy) for a viola d'amore. Gold Medal in 2011 at the International Competition of Pisogne in the "young cello maker" category, in collaboration with French luthier Jérémie Bonnet. 

Alessandro Gambarin (Crémone, Italie)

Born in St Etienne (France) in 1979, Alessandro Gambarin began his apprenticeship in the Art of Violin Making in 1997 at the famous Ipiall Institute under the direction of Masters Ezio Scarpini and Massimo Negroni. After graduating in 2002, he entered the workshop of Master Stefano Trabucchi and then opened his own workshop in 2006, Piazza S. Michele in Cremone (Italy). 

Inspired by the instruments of 16th-century Cremonese masters, Alessandro Gambarin offers instruments of the highest quality, featuring exceptional woods and splendid varnishes. His workshop is currently located in Corso Vittorio Emanuele II (Cremona, Italy), in collaboration with luthier Patrizio Orippi.

Famille Bauer (France)

Jean Bauer

He was the undisputed leader of French violin making and, in the field of creation, certainly one of the greatest violin makers of the 20th century. He studied violin making in Mattaincourt, near Mirecourt, with Marius Didier[1]. In 1941, after initially planning to settle in Le Havre, he finally settled in Angers, as he wanted a city not too far from Paris, but one that would offer him good conditions for creativity (unlike Le Havre, which was suffering the brunt of the bombings of World War II). Jean Bauer became involved in the cultural life of Angers from the moment he arrived in the city. He sold his first violin in 1942 to Charles Bardon, a professional musician. Some six hundred musicians from around the world have the privilege of owning a Bauer, an instrument designed by this master violin maker. In 1954, he won the violin making prize at the Liège International Competition with a quartet called "Le Luth et la Rose"[1]. Along with his great colleagues, notably Étienne Vatelot, he was behind the creation of the National School of Violin Making in Mirecourt, the beating heart of French violin making. 
President of the Société des Concerts Populaires since 1962, he worked for the creation of a permanent orchestra, the future Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire (ONPL). From 1963 to 1972, he chaired the Angers Cultural Action Committee, which led to the establishment of a cultural center in Angers. In 1975, he launched a chamber music program that was renamed Mardis Musicaux in 1982. Jean Bauer died on May 30, 2005, at the age of 91. 

Jacques Bauer

Jacques Bauer was born in Angers. He was the son, student, and successor of his father, Jean Bauer. Initially an intern with Jean Schmitt in Lyon, he was appointed director of the Société Française de Lutherie (French Violin Making Society) at the Royaumont Congress in 1974. His mission was to revive the company's student instrument making business in Mirecourt. In 1978, he joined his father's workshop until December 1991, and in January 1992, he set up his own art violin making workshop in Angers, located at 24 rue du Commerce. There, he developed the creation, restoration, appraisal, sales, and rental of string quartet instruments. From 1977 to 1991, he was a prizewinner in international competitions: Antoine Stradivarius in Cremona (Italy), Louis Spohr in Kassel (Germany), Maurice Vieux in Paris, and the International Competition of the City of Paris. He is a member of the Association of Violin and Bow Makers of France (GLAAF) and a member of the International Agreement of Violin and Bow Makers (EILA). In 2009, he was made a Knight of the National Order of Merit. 

Timothée Bauer

Son of Jacques and grandson of Jean, Timothée Bauer represents the fourth generation of luthiers dedicated to maintaining the tradition of quality that has made Bauer instruments so renowned. From 2005 to 2008, he trained at the Jean-Jacques Pagès International School of Violin Making in Mirecourt, and completed internships in Cordes-sur-Ciel with Christian Urbita, then in Orléans with Bruno Dreux. He has made eight violins, one viola, and one cello. Since 2008, he has worked in Jacques Bauer's workshop, taking on increasing responsibilities with his father's support.

Giovanni Fichera (Naples, Italie)

Giovanni Fichera was born in 1939 in Casoria (Naples, Italy). In the second half of the 20th century, he produced beautifully crafted instruments in the purest tradition of great Italian violin making.


Roland Landron & Jean-Michel Ithurburu (Bordeaux, France)

Roland Landron settled in Bordeaux after studying at the International School of Violin Making in Cremona (Italy) and working in collaboration with Gilles Braem for many years. Roland devotes himself to the restoration and creation of violins, violas, and double basses, and participates in numerous violin making competitions.

Jean-Michel Ithurburu studied at the Newark School of Violin Making. The Quartet's instruments are exquisite models in the grand tradition of violin making. Discover them in these pages, at their Bordeaux workshop, and at ours in Paris! Roland Landron & Jean-Michel Ithurburu, 121 rue du Palais Gallien, 33000 Bordeaux

Christian Sergent (Tours, France)

Christian Sergent set up his workshop in Indres-et-Loire, near Tours (France) in 1984, dedicated to the making of violins and violas, as well as the restoration of violins, violas, cellos, and double basses. He can be contacted at 13 rue du Petit Saint-Martin, 37000 Tours. Tel. +33 2 47 39 03 06

Patrick Charton (Paris et St Etienne, France)

My new instruments quickly attracted numerous soloists and musicians from French and foreign orchestras. They earned me numerous awards in various international competitions. 

At the same time, I've carried out restorations of historical instruments, which inspire my own creations. I've also developed a system for adjusting sound and playing comfort that takes into account the architecture of each instrument (vaulting/string pressure ratio) and the playing style of each musician. Since 2013, I've devoted part of my work to creating a contemporary quartet with innovative design and features. This quartet for the 21st century resonates with great classical and jazz musicians. 

Bernard Bossert (Genève, Suisse)

A graduate of the Brienz School of Violin Making and based in Geneva since 1977, Bernard BOSSERT's work is inspired by the great Italian masters of the 17th and 18th centuries, mainly 

  • C.G TESTORE (1701, Milan), GUARNERI Del JESU (Kreisler 1733) and Kochansky (1741, Cremona) for violins, A. GUARNERI (1690, 41cm, Cremona), 
  • C.A. TESTORE (1740, 41.7cm, Milan) and J.P.MAGGINI (1630, 42.7cm, Brescia) for violas 

Bernard BOSSERT in his workshop: rue du Général-Dufour 20, 1204 Geneva, tel: 022 321 57 90, fax: 022 329 99 97

Luisa V Campagnolo (Cremone, Italie)

A founding member of the "Antonio Stradivari" group of luthiers and bow makers and of the "Cremona Liuteria" label, which she launched under her presidency, Luisa Vania Campagnolo was born on January 1, 1968 in Bassano del Grappa (province of Venice, Italy).

She began learning the violin at the age of 14 and joined the State Professional Institute of Crafts and Industry in Bassano in the class of Master Luigi Bernadini in 1982. She also continued her violin studies at the Morello Foundation in Castelfranco Veneto (province of Treviso, Italy). She joined the Antonio Stradivari International School of Violin Making (Cremona, Italy) in 1985 and obtained her advanced diploma in 1988 under the direction of Master Giorgio Cè. From 1988 to 1990, Luisa continued her specialization with Masters Giovanni Lucchi, Emilio Slaviero, and Fiorenza Manfredini, and completed her apprenticeship with Mathijs Heyligers and Massimo Negroni for the construction of quartet instruments and Alessandro Tossani for restoration. Based in Cremona (Italy), it produces a maximum of 4 violins per year, boasting very high quality craftsmanship. 

Maurizio Tadioli (Cremone, Italie)

Born in Cremona in 1967, Maurizio Tadioli began studying the art of string quartet making at a young age with his grandfather, Carlo Pizzamiglio. Also studying piano and organ, Maurizio accompanied numerous religious choirs. He graduated from the International School of Violin Making "A. Stradivarius" in 1985, and in 2004 attended the "Making Copies and Antiquing" Master Classes led by Samuel Zygmuntowicz, one of the greatest authorities in the field, and by Christian Bajon (former assistant to J. Smith and E. Vatelot). 

Principal Prizes: